Eight species of Marssonina parasitic on 21 species of host plants from Korea are described and illustrated. They are Marssonina brunnea (Ellis & Everh.) Magnus, M. capsulicola (Rostr.) Magnus, M. celastri H.D. Shin & H.T. Lee, M. coronaria (Ellis & Davis) Davis, M. fragariae (Lib.) Kleb., M. juglandis (Lib.) Magnus, M. rosae (Lib.) Died. and M. sennenis (Gonz. Frag.) Vassiljevsky & Karak. Of these, M. capsulicola and M. coronaria sometimes poss three-celled conidia and M. sennenis is characterized by a short appendage at the basal end of the conidia. Morphological features of conidia and host ranges were of taxonomic values for species delimitation.
Fragaria ; Host Specificity ; Korea* ; Rosa ; Spores, Fungal

Since a nationwide childhood vaccination with tetanus toxoid, tetanus has become a rare disease in Korea. However, we recently experienced 17 cases of adult tetanus in a university hospital during a 21-month period. Seventy percent of the patients were female, and the mean age was 63 yr (range, 29-87). The majority (88.2%) of the patients did not get primary vaccinations for tetanus and decennial tetanus-diph-theria toxoid booster. Most patients (88.2%), who sustained acute injury, did not seek medical care for their wounds or did not receive the prophylaxis for tetanus. Tetanus was found most frequently among farmers. Tetanus was diagnosed initially only in 53% of patients. The case-fatality ratio was 23.5%. These cases show that recently occurring tetanus in Korea is a disease, affecting the elderly and the female who may have a lower immunity against tetanus, and the farmers who are likely to be exposed to Clostridium tetani. In addition, diagnosis of tetanus is often delayed in area where cases are seen infrequently. Therefore, improved education among patients and physicians, emphasis of anti-tetanus immunization and awareness of tetanus respectively, may be essential for the prevention of disease and the reduction of its mortality.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Agricultural Workers' Diseases/epidemiology ; Diagnostic Errors ; Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Health Education ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice* ; Human ; Immunization, Secondary/psychology ; Immunization, Secondary/utilization* ; Korea/epidemiology ; Middle Aged ; Tetanus/diagnosis ; Tetanus/epidemiology* ; Tetanus/prevention & control ; Tetanus/therapy ; Tetanus Antitoxin/therapeutic use ; Tetanus Toxoid ; Treatment Outcome ; Vaccination/utilization* ; Wounds, Penetrating/complications

Primary hemangiopericytoma of chest wall is very rate and only a few cases have ever been reported. The tumor aries from the capillary pericyte of Zimmerman. It is a highly vascular slow growing tumor which can be calssified as both malignant and benign varieties. We report a case of a 66 year-old man in whom recurrent hemangiopericytoma was treated by complete surgical excision. In October 1993 he had received surgical excision of hemangiopericytoma on posterior chest wall. For more than 6 years after the operation he was in good condition until a recurrent mass was found on the chest X-ray. The patient was discharged 9 days after the operation and is receiving radiotherapy.
Aged ; Capillaries ; Hemangiopericytoma* ; Humans ; Pericytes ; Radiotherapy ; Thoracic Wall* ; Thorax*

The family Peronosporaceae, an obligate biotrophic group of Oomycota, causes downy mildew disease on many cultivated and ornamental plants such as beet, cucumber, grape, onion, rose, spinach, and sunflower. To investigate the diversity of Peronosporaceae species in Korea, we performed morphological analysis for dried plant herbariums with downy mildew infections by two largest genera, Peronospora and Plasmopara. As a result, it was confirmed that there are five species of Peronospora and two species of Plasmopara, which have been so far unrecorded in Korea, as well as rarely known in the world; Pl. angustiterminalis (ex Xanthium strumarium), Pl. siegesbeckiae (ex Siegesbeckia glabrescens), P. chenopodii-ambrosioidis (ex Chenopodium ambrosioides), P. chenopodii-ficifolii (ex Chenopodium ficifolium), P. clinopodii (ex Clinopodium cf. vulgare), P. elsholtziae (ex Elsholtzia ciliata), and P. lathyrina (ex Lathyrus japonicus). In addition, their phylogenetic relationship was inferred by molecular sequence analysis of ITS, LSU rDNA, and cox2 mtDNA. By rediscovering the seven missing species and barcoding their DNA sequences, this study provides valuable insights into the diversity and evolutionary studies of downy mildew pathogens.

No abstract available.
Trichosporon*

BACKGROUND: As the population of immunocompromised patients continues to grow, the incidence of infections caused by opportunistic filamentous fungi will continue to increase. Inhalation of fungal spores which are found in the environmental air precedes infection with molds. We investigated the relative frequency of various molds recovered from hospital air as compared to isolates from clinical specimens. METHODS: Air samples were taken from 83 sites in Chonnam University Hospital during December 1997. Air sampler (Biotest, Germany) with Rose Bengal agar strip (Biotest, Germany) was calibrated to take 40 liters of air. The strips were incubated at 37degrees C for 2-14 days. The results of air cultures were compared with those from the clinical specimens during a year (1997). RESULTS: Of 83 air samples cultured, 61 (73.5%) were positive for molds: 43 (51.8%) samples with 1-2 CFU, 15 (18.1 %) samples with 3-5 CFU, and 3 (3.6%) samples with > 5 CFU. A total of 184 molds were isolated and the most frequently recovered molds were Cladosporium (26.0%), followed by Penicillium (25.5%), Aspergillus (18.5%) and Alternaria (9.8%). The most frequently isolated molds from clinical specimens were Aspergillus (62.8%) and Fusarium (20.2%). For Aspergillus species, A. flavus (28,8%) and A. fumigates (25.4%) were predominant among the clinical isolates, whereas A sydowii (44.1%) and A. niger (38.2%) were common in the hospital air. CONCLUSION: This result shows that Cladosporium and Penicillium are the predominant molds in the hospital air and the relative frequency of molds recovered from hospital air is quite different from those of clinical isolates.
Agar ; Alternaria ; Aspergillus ; Cladosporium ; Fungi* ; Fusarium ; Immunocompromised Host ; Incidence ; Inhalation ; Jeollanam-do ; Niger ; Penicillium ; Rose Bengal ; Spores, Fungal

BACKGROUND: Fluconazole and itraconazole, the azole-derivative antifungal agents, have been commonly used for the treatment of candidiasis. We studied the comparative activities of fluconazole and itraconazole against isolates of Candida species recovered from blood cultures in Chonnam National University Hospital between 1994 and 1998. METHODS: One hundred twenty-four bloodstream isolates of Candida species (32 C. albicans, 36 C. parapsilosis, 19 C. tropicalis, 12 C. glabrata, 10 C. pelliculosa, 7 C. guilliermondii, 5 C. lipolytica, and 3 others) from 124 patients were tested. Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of fluconazole (0.12~64microgram/mL) and itraconazole (0.03~16 microgram/mL) for each isolate were determined by the NCCLS broth macrodilution method. RESULTS: Fluconazole MICs were >64 microgram/mL for 4.8% (6/124) of the isolates and 16~32 microgram/mL for the 8.9% (11/124) isolates. Itraconazole MICs were >1 microgram/mL for 16% (16/124) and 0.25~0.5 microgram/mL for 21.0% (26/124) of the isolates. Candida species for which the fluconazole MICs were higher, were in general more resistant to itraconazole (P<0.05). There were species-related differences in MIC50:those for C. albicans, C. parapsilosis and C. tropicalis were lower than those for other species. MICs of fluconazole and itraconazole for each species did not change during the 5-year period, but resistance to fluconazole (>64 microgram/mL) or itraconazole (> 1 microgram/mL) was observed in 4.5% (2/44) of isolates obtained from 1994 to 1996, and increased to 17.5% (14/80) of isolates recovered in 1997 to 1998 (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: This data showed that itraconazole MICs were proportionally higher for Candida isolates with high fluconazole MICs, and Candida species with fluconazole or itraconazole resistance increased in the latter two years, although MICs of fluconazole and itraconazole for each species did not change during the 5-year span.
Antifungal Agents ; Candida* ; Candidemia ; Candidiasis ; Fluconazole ; Humans ; Itraconazole* ; Jeollanam-do

BACKGROUND: The frequency of bloodstream infection by Candida species has dramatically increased in recent years. Many of bloodstream infections caused by candida arise from an endogenous source of mucosal colonization, as well as exogenously from the hospital environment. We analyzed the prevalence of Candida species isolated from blood cultures, and compared it to those of all other clinical specimens, and those of the hospital environment. METHODS: Identification of Candida species was performed on isolates from blood cultures (159 strains), from cultures of clinical specimens other than bloods (1,609 strains) and from cultures of the hospital environment (30 strains). All candida isolates were recovered between January 1997 and June 1998 at Chonnam University Hospital. Candida surveillance cultures of the hands and nares of 77 medical personnel were performed using CHROMagar Candida. RESULTS: Among the Candida species isolated from the blood cultures, C. parapsilosis was the most frequently isolated (35.2%), followed by C. albicans (29.6%), C. glabrata (9.4%), and C. tropicalis (8.8%). The Candida species frequently isolated from clinical specimens other than bloods were C. albicans (52.6%), C. glabrata (19.1%), and C. tropicalis (15.3%). While C. parapsilosis was not frequently isolated from clinical specimens other than blood (3.4%), it was the most frequent Candida species isolated from the hands of medical personnel. Sixteen (20.8%) out of 77 medical personnel were found to harbor C. parapsilosis on their hands. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that it is possible that most of the Candida species causing bloodstream infections are from mucosal colonized strains, but that C. parapsilosis may be acquired from exogenous sources.
Candida* ; Candidemia ; Colon ; Hand ; Jeollanam-do ; Prevalence

Crohn's disease is one of the chronic inflammatory disorders of unknown cause involving the gastrointestinal tract. The inflammation may occur in the colon, either alone or with small intestine. Crohn's disease has been associated with increased risk for coloretal carcinoma in patients with long-standing colitis, strictures and fistulae. Recently, we experienced a case of Crohn's disease complicating carcinoma in a 85 year old male. Ten years ago, he compained severe abdominal pain and diarrhea. and was detected colon obstruction and enteric fistula. But, he spontaneously improved. Recently, the patient was admitted complaining abdominal pain. He complaind abdominal pain and indigestion chronically and aggravated recently. He was examined with colonofibroscopy, and computered tomography, and carcinoma was detected at the site of Crohn's disease.
Abdominal Pain ; Aged, 80 and over ; Colitis ; Colon* ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Crohn Disease* ; Diarrhea ; Dyspepsia ; Fistula ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Intestine, Small ; Male

BACKGROUND: Congenital cystic diseases of the lung are uncommon but they share similar embryogenic and clinical characteristics. MATERIAL AND METHOD: From 1972 to 1999, 46 patients were operated on in the Dept. of Thoracic Surgery at the YUMC. And we analysed the patients' charts for clinical presentations, managements and pathologic findings with chart of patients. RESULT: There were 17 males and 29 females, and mean age was 16.2 years. The main symptoms were 11 fevers due to recurrent infection, 10 dyspneas, and chest pain and sputum production etc. Thirteen patients were asymptomatic. There were 13 pulmonary sequestrations(PS), 12 congenital cystic adenomatoid malformations(CCAM), 12 bronchogenic cysts(BC), 5 cystic bronchiectasis(CB) and 4 congenital lobar emphysemas(CLE). Simple excision(resection) was performed in 8 patients, segmentectomy in 6 patients, lobectomy (with 1 operative mortality) in 31 patients, and pneumonectomy in one patient. The compli-cations were 4 pneumonias, one persistent air leakage and one empyema. CONCLUSION: We experienced surgical treatment of congenital cystic lung disease and reported them with literature review.
Chest Pain ; Dyspnea ; Empyema ; Female ; Fever ; Humans ; Lung Diseases* ; Lung* ; Male ; Mastectomy, Segmental ; Pneumonectomy ; Pneumonia ; Sputum ; Thoracic Surgery